Abstract

Petrographic studies of Apollo 17 mare basalts indicate that 70215 and 71569 arrived at the
lunar surface as liquids. Low-pressure melting experiments show that compositional variations within
the Apollo 17 and Apollo 11 ophitic basalt suites may be generated by near-surface fractional
crystallization of liquids with compositions similar to 70215 and 70017. High-pressure melting
experiments show that liquids similar in composition to 70017 and 70215 can be generated by partial
melting of an olivine+ clinopyroxene+ Fe-Ti-oxide source at depths of 100-150 km within the moon.